Parasite infection transmitted by the bite of several species of female mosquitoes (anopheles type), which are generally active
between sunset and sunrise (maximum risk is between 22h and 04h).

Rural tropical regions (departments of Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Pando, Santa Cruz and Tarija) of low or medium altitude
(<2500m), during the wet season when mosquitoes are breeding.

The parasite enters into the cells of the liver and starts reproducing. After a period ranging from one week to a few months, the
parasite migrates into the blood cells where it continues to develop. The infected cells die and release the parasite and some toxins.
The symptoms of the disease (fever, headache, chills and malaise) appear at that time. In most cases, the illness manifests itself between
eight days and one month after the mosquito bite.

Four types of malaria exist, two of them are present in Bolivia: Plasmodium vivax (the most common), and
Plasmodium falciparum (Pando, borders of the departments of Beni and Santa Cruz with Brazil).

Only Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for deadly encephalic cases.

One can suffer from relapses of the disease with Plasmodium vivax.

South of Bolivia (without falciparum) belongs to Group I (i.e. with no resistance to chloroquine medicine), north of Bolivia
and regions harboringPlasmodium falciparum belong to Group III (i.e. multiple resistance, mefloquine and halofantrine medicine
is more efficient).

If medication is not prescribed in time, severe complications may appear. The disease is fatal for 0.2% of the cases.

Prevention: protect yourself from mosquitoes.

No vaccine is available, preventive treatments and specific medicine exist for the different types of malaria.

Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis)

Parasite disease (Trypanosoma Cruzi) transmitted by the bite of a bug called vinchuca, generally occurring while the victim is sleeping.

The risk is very high in the valleys near Cochabamba and Sucre, where vinchucas colonize the poorest houses made of mud and straw.

The disease is transmitted via the excrement that the vinchuca leaves close to the bite. Clean the wound without scratching. Do not put your
hands in contact with your eyes. You can also be infected from raw food contaminated by vinchucas' excrement, or via blood transfusion.

If you have been bitten, try to capture the vinchuca alive, if possible, and bring it to a Bolivian medical laboratory for special analysis. Consult
an expert in tropical diseases who will take a blood sample to search for the parasite, and subsequently prescribe the appropriate medical
treatment.

Symptoms: small swelling at the site of the bite, starting with some temporary troubles (like fatigue, fever, vomit, diarrhea...) that disappear after
a few weeks. One third of the victims develop the severe form of the disease with heart and intestinal problems (often fatal) after several
years (10 to 20 years following the contamination!).

Prevention: protect yourself from vinchucas, avoid sleeping outdoors or in some rural houses in endemic regions, or use a mosquito net.

No vaccine is available, but specific medical treatments exist.

Yellow fever

Viral disease transmitted by mosquito bite. The greatest risk occurs at the end of the day.

Amazonian regions (high risk in the north of Bolivia. Departments of Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Pando, Santa Cruz and Tarija) of low and
medium altitude (<2500m), particularly during the wet season when mosquitoes are breeding.

Generally, the benign form of the disease manifestation exhibists two stages marked by fever and nausea. In some cases, the disease can cause serious
kidney and liver problems that may be fatal.

Incubation period: 3 to 10 days.

A vaccine exists against the disease and is effective for 10 years, but there is no specific medical treatment.

Prevention: protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Leishmaniasis

Parasite disease transmitted by the bite of certain species of flies; greatest risk being at the beginning and at end of the day.

Rural areas in tropical and subtropical regions.

There are two forms of the disease: cutaneous or visceral (attacking the internal organs).

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (skin and cartilage degenerating) develops in the few weeks or months following the infection.

Dengue fever

Viral disease transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes (Aedes Aegypti type) mainly during the day (maximum risk during the
few hours following the sunrise or preceding the sunset) contrary to mosquitoes responsible for malaria.

Tropical and subtropical regions (Departments of Beni, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz), in the vicinity of houses, high risk during epidemics

The disease is generally benign, except in case of dengue hemorrhagic fever which represents about 0.5% of the cases but is responsible for 5%
of the deaths from the disease.

Incubation period: 3 to 14 days.

No vaccine and no specific treatment are available.

Prevention: protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Rabies

Viral disease transmitted to human beings by the saliva of an infected animal either through a bite or licking a wound.

Once symptoms appear (a few days after the contamination), rabbies can not be cured and is fatal.

A vaccine against the disease (effective for 5 years), and emergency medical treatment (post exposure vaccination) before the
disease becomes active.

Prevention: avoid direct contact with animals presenting a high risk of contamination.

Hepatitis A

Viral disease transmitted by ingestion of food contaminated by excrement, generally present in raw vegetables washed in an impure
water or food that has been manipulated by people who are infected by the virus.

Benign and immunizing disease for children (very common in Bolivia), Hepatitis A may be seriously dangerous for adults.

The virus attacks the liver, causing fatigue, nausea and fever followed by jaundice (yellow coloration of the skin and eyes).
Faeces are discolored and urine is dark. Hepatitis A does not evolve into chronic or long-term infection (unlike hepatitis B or C).

Incubation period: 15 to 40 days.

Vaccine against the disease (effective for 10 years), there is no specific treatment (stay in bed and follow a very strict diet to
rest the liver).

Prevention: Hepatitis A is highly contagious. To avoid the disease, one should respect very strict hygiene rules regarding food and drinks.